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The Small-Business Owner's Guide to Advertising Injury

Chapter 6: The High Cost of Advertising Injury Lawsuits

Given the popularity of social media and its widespread use, it's no wonder courts are still trying to figure out how existing laws apply to the new technology. But while the law tries to keep up, social media continues to give rise to copyright, trademark, defamation, and privacy disputes.

These cases only scratch the surface of the many violations your business could be accused of for its social media posts. You could be sued for copyright or trademark infringement if you post someone else's work improperly. A trademark infringement case that goes to trial can cost $150,000 to $250,000 in attorney's fees alone.

Advertising injury lawsuits contribute to the $105.4 billion small businesses paid — in a single year — for expenses related to lawsuits, according to a 2010 study conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Legal Reform. Not to mention…